William Pringle Houghton William Pringle Houghton, 97, of Canandaigua, died Sept. 15, 2013. For six decades, he promoted architectural preservation, appreciation of antique craftsmanship and the conservation of open land. Born in 1916 in Plainfield, N.J., he pursued an engineering degree at Rochester Institute of Technology (then Mechanics Institute). For 20 years, he supervised automotive manufacture at Rochester Products (GM), as well as naval engine production during World War II. During his first week in Rochester, he answered a classified for a room. The owner's daughter, Marie Burgert, a kindred unconventional spirit, answered the door. Bill fell in love, by his telling, at first sight. He and Marie spent 53 years together until her death in 1987. In 1948, they bought an abandoned Greek revival house overlooking a serene valley near Canandaigua. It boasted original wallpaper, three fireplaces and a spurious history as a depot on the underground railroad. It lacked plumbing, electricity, heat or water. A friend, aghast, remarked, "What in God's name do you want that old place for?" The name stuck. Bill and Marie lovingly restored Old Place to its 19th-century glory. It is now on the National Register of Historic Places. In 1955, they left city jobs to open Old Place Antiques; thereafter, they restored numerous other historic upstate homes. Bill was among the first locally to place a conservation easement on his property, thereby preserving its natural beauty and character as an agricultural homestead. He has become an inspiration for others. Vigorously middle-aged until 90, after decades helping others, he lately depended for stellar quality of life on neighbors, friends, family and present and past caregivers, notably Tiffany Pollot, Amanda Tuttle and Janice Lavoie. He was sustained by the love and support of his amazing Grimble Road community, especially by Shirley and Dick Delong, Jack and Rhea Duel, Mark and Ginny Clark and foremost - with his family's gratitude beyond words - Bill and Diane Lipnickey. He is survived by his devoted daughter, Charlotte Houghton and son-in-law Gilbert Friedman; closest friend and partner in adventure, Patti Simmons; dear nieces and nephew, Elizabeth Mueller, Mary Motte Hall and Peter Engelking; their spouses, David Barnes and Connie Engelking; great-nieces and -nephews; and their children. Bill was beloved by so many; we will miss him deeply. A memorial will follow.